Deceased: 2009-09-17
Diocese: PHILADELPHIA
ICTE Fall: 1990
Reverend Monsignor Richard T. LaHart, Pastor Emeritus, Saint Philip Neri Pariah, Lafayette Hill, died of pneumonia at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, Darby, on Thursday, September 17, 2009.
Monsignor LaHart was born on July 5, 1925, in Williamstown, New Jersey. He is the son of the late Richard P. J. LaHart and the late Mary Curran. Monsignor LaHart attended Saint Gregory Parochial School, Philadelphia, and Saint Thomas More High School, Philadelphia, before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.
Monsignor LaHart was ordained on May 10, 1952, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, by Most Reverend John F. O’Hara, and named Honorary Prelate to His Holiness Pope John Paul II on December 18, 1985. Monsignor LaHart served as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Pompeii Parish, Bethlehem; Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, Chester Heights; and Saint John Bosco Parish, Hatboro. Monsignor LaHart also served on the Faculty at Monsignor Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, and Bishop McDevitt High School, Wyncote. Monsignor LaHart served as Principal, Bishop Kenrick High School, Norristown, from 1966 through 1978. In June 1978, Monsignor LaHart was appointed Pastor, Saint Philip Neri Parish, Lafayette Hill, and named Pastor Emeritus there in 2000.
The service of the Transfer of the Body will be held at Saints Simon and Jude Church, West Chester, on Monday, September 21, 2009, at 5:00 PM, followed by a viewing. A Mass will be celebrated at 7:00 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Justin Rigali at Saint Philip Neri Church, Lafayette Hill, on Tuesday, September 22, 2009, at 11:00 AM. Concelebrating the Funeral Mass will be Most Reverend Louis A. DeSimone, Reverend George J. Boyle, Reverend Edward J. Kelly, Reverend Monsignor Francis X. Meehan, Reverend Monsignor William J. O’Donnell and Reverend John P. Paul. Monsignor O’Donnell will be the homilist.
Monsignor LaHart is survived by his sister, Sister Anne Bernadette LaHart, SSJ and nieces and nephews. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Philadelphia.
